By Maura Larkins: I attended Castle Park Elementary in Chula Vista Elementary School District as a child, and taught third grade there until 2001. I care about this district and the kids who go there.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Dennis Doyle suddenly clears out as school superintendent at National School District

Dennis M. Doyle, former Assistant Superintendent at CVESD, has apparently not flourished as superintendent of National School District. Or perhaps he's had a better offer?

[Update: It turned out that Mr. Doyle did NOT have a better offer. He eventually found a job at a much lower salary administering a small charity that promotes art in classrooms. I found out years later that Mr. Doyle had been deeply--but secretly--involved in my own case at CVESD before he went to National School District. He and I never met; he was apparently helping a pal with a personal agenda. It appears from the article below that Mr. Doyle was involved deeply and secretly in some mysterious goings-on at National School District. He is now a poster boy for Voice of San Diego online newspaper. He's the guy with the friendly smile and head of white hair who pops up in the photo banners on the VOSD webpages.]

In a prepared statement, the board and Doyle jointly declared: “Dr. Doyle's decision, although sudden, was his personal decision and not the result of any dispute between the board and the superintendent or any suspected wrongdoing on his part.”

Chris Oram, assistant superintendent of educational services, will be the district's chief executive until the board appoints an interim superintendent. That could happen as early as next week, board President James Grier said.

Doyle, 59, of University City, was hired as National's superintendent in July 2007 after spending 10 years as assistant superintendent in the neighboring Chula Vista Elementary School District. He has been an educator for more than 30 years, and was paid $154,000 annually.

“National is a fabulous district with a dynamic staff, motivated students and supportive parents,” Doyle wrote in an e-mail.

The district educates 5,800 students from kindergarten through sixth grade at 11 schools. It has a higher percentage of non-English-speaking students – 65.5 percent – than any other district in the county.

Doyle cited several achievements for the district during his 22-month tenure, including improvements in the district's state academic rating based on test scores and and improved language proficiency scores for its non-English-speaking students. He also mentioned teachers' widespread use of technology in the classroom.

“Nonetheless, it has become apparent to me that it is time to move on,” he wrote.

Grier said he was surprised by Doyle's announcement and did not find out until the day of the board meeting Wednesday.